Where do raccoons, raccoon dogs and mink spread in our country and what role do the aliens play in ecosystems and as potential vectors of disease? Scientists are now reporting on the results of a project dedicated to these questions. The team is also calling on citizens to get involved in researching the small predators that have been introduced: With the help of an app, sightings of the three species and observations of their “acts” can be reported.
It is well known that human beings damage the world’s ecosystems in a variety of ways – in doing so, they literally confuse them: Many animal and plant species are transported from one place to another as a result of global activities – in some cases with problematic consequences. Because sometimes the strangers ended up in paradise, so to speak – due to the lack of competitors or enemies and plentiful food sources, they can multiply rapidly. Such invasive species can then cause major damage to native ecosystems. Introduced small predators are considered to be particularly problematic. Because in addition to their appetite for some endangered species, they are also considered potential carriers of diseases that can be dangerous to humans.
In Germany, the focus is currently primarily on the North American raccoon. It is currently spreading almost uncontrollably and stocks are becoming denser. The raccoon dog, originally from East Asia, and the North American mink are also on the rise.
“In the ZOWIAC project, we are therefore investigating how the raccoon, but also the raccoon dog and the mink, affect endangered native species and the respective ecosystems and with which parasites and other disease-causing pathogens they are infected,” says Sven Klimpel from Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center Frankfurt. In doing so, he and his colleagues rely on information from research institutions as well as from animal protection, hunting and nature conservation associations. “In addition, the involvement of the population is very important to us,” says Klimpel.
Ecosystem vandals and disease vectors
As reported by the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, the gastric content analyzes of raccoons carried out as part of the project have already confirmed the suspicion that the small predators are a serious threat to native species. Accordingly, Red List species such as the yellow-bellied toad or the common toad serve as food for the raccoon. The same applies to the raccoon dog: a total of 16 native species have so far been identified as its victims. In addition to endangered frog species, he apparently even snaps hares. On the other hand, there is comparatively little information on the mink, which is currently spreading along water bodies.
The results of ZOWIAC are already shedding new light on the role of raccoons and raccoon dogs as possible disease vectors: “We examined around 200 blood samples from raccoons and raccoon dogs from all over Germany virologically. Some of these blood samples are positive for West Nile Virus, which originates in Africa and is transmitted by mosquitoes. The metagenomic studies of the raccoon dog, which were also carried out as part of the project, also showed that they can act as a reservoir host and thus as a transmitter of SARS-CoV-2,” reports Klimpel. In addition, 22 different parasite species were identified in the raccoons examined and 18 in the raccoon dogs, some of which can also affect humans.
Report sightings via app
In order to get even better on the trail of these two invaders and the mink, the team now wants to involve the population more intensively: “We have therefore developed a reporting option for citizens: whether on a walk in nature, in the city or on a picnic in the park – Sightings of raccoons, raccoon dogs and minks can easily be entered into our ZOWIAC app,” says Klimpel. The distribution and occurrence data obtained through citizen science are very important for further investigations, explains the scientist. The app can be used to report observations and transmit photos of tracks, droppings or food marks. In this way, anyone interested can help to generate data on the spread and further spread potential of the invaders in Germany. The research data obtained through the app are then stored on the ZOWIAC website presented and there is also the opportunity for dialogue with the scientists.
Klimpel and his colleagues hope that the involvement of interested laypersons will serve to research the problematic role of the furry exotic species in our native ecosystems: “Ongoing investigations in certain areas, such as nature reserves, should provide an overview of the hunting behavior of Create raccoons and co in order to be able to give recommendations for action to protect biodiversity and local ecosystems that are as effective as possible,” says Klimpel.
Source: Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museums
http://www.senckenberg.de/